Chapter Forty – You've Been Here Before
But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
- Pompeii, by Bastille

Hermione knocked on Harry's door, nervously palming the small beaded bag containing the precious memories. Draco shifted from foot to foot behind her.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Draco asked her while they waited for the door to open. "We're not exactly mates."

"I doubt Harry's going to be trying to trade chocolate frog cards with you," Hermione said hurriedly as the lock in the door turned. "Just be polite."

The door opened and Harry stood before them with a small smile on his face. Hermione crossed over the threshold to hug him and stepped back to hand over the vials from her bag.

"All in one piece," Hermione assured him. "I can't thank you enough."

Harry looked from Hermione for the first time to Draco, who looked as impassive as if they were discussing the weather. "Good week, then?" Harry directed the question to both of of them.

"Very," Hermione grinned. "The village was lovely, and we met a few new friends."

"Not to mention the dent we put in my father's wine cellar," Draco quipped unexpectedly.

Harry looked at the blonde with some surprise, but Hermione continued to beam at them both. A knot Harry hadn't realized he had in the pit of his stomach unclenched at the sight of Hermione's unabashed happiness. Something had changed in her since the funeral. This girl had more color in her face, her clothes finally looked like they were fitting her again rather than just hanging off her bones, and her eyes were dancing again with intelligence and mischief. She looked like the Hermione Harry remembered from their Hogwarts days, whole and healthy.

Harry smiled wider. "Would you both like to stay for some tea? Kreacher just finished some biscuits."

Hermione looked at Draco, who didn't respond, and answered for them. "We'd love to."

Harry beckoned them to step inside, and when the door closed behind them Draco let out a low whistle as he looked down the long hallway.
"Like what you've done with the place, Potter," Draco said without a trace of sarcasm.

"Thanks," Harry said and led the way to the living room. "That spell you had Hermione pass on was brilliant, I was able to remove all the more distasteful portraits."

"I see Aunty Walburga has left the hall," Draco continued on conversationally. "I was very small when I was here before, just after she died and the family was trying to figure out a way to keep Sirius from inheriting. Unfortunately for all the good pure blood family members, the inheritance magic is pretty iron-clad. Eventually the house locked itself up, I assume it let him right back in when he came back."

Harry shrugged noncommittally. Those lost months he could have spent with Sirius still haunted him, but Draco's observations were not meant to remind him of that.

"Do you want to see the rest of the house?" Harry asked, keeping up the friendly conversation. "I can't take credit for most of it, a lot of cleaning and purging was done under Molly Weasley's careful eye."

"Yeah, to try to keep us out of Order business and trouble," Hermione said with a fond smile. "That poor woman, she did try her best."

"It's like she didn't know us or something," Harry added with a grin.

Draco felt slightly out of place listening to Hermione and Harry banter back and forth about their shared experiences. He didn't like knowing that he missed out on so much time he could have spent knowing everything about her. He could have left his parents behind to entertain the Dark Lord and gone to live with the Order. Draco knew without a doubt Albus Dumbledore would have welcomed Draco into the Order, even if other members had reservations. He could have spent summers doing something as mundane as cleaning out his old family house rather than murdering muggles with other Deatheaters.

"Let's see it," Draco said with a forced smirk.

Harry returned the look with a wry smile and gestured to the living room. "Living room," he said sarcastically. "I can't claim ownership for the books on the shelves though, they're all Hermione's. If you're looking for a good Christmas gift, this girl could use a library."

Hermione smacked Harry lightly on the arm and Draco caught himself sniggering. "She already got lost in the one I have in the home we stayed in this week, but I'll keep it under advisement that she is in need of her own. I think she deserves ten."

Harry was genuinely enjoying himself now. He wondered if Malfoy would actually buy Hermione her own library, he made the comment just to see if the idea would take root. Maybe it was the Slytherin he had in himself, but seeing Hermione's every wish come true was worth a little poke or two in the right direction. If Harry was being honest with himself, he also wanted the other man to know that Harry was a fixture in Hermione's life and would not be easily cast aside. They didn't have any romantic feelings for one another, but they were more than mere friends, they were family deeper than any blood.

Harry led them down through the kitchens first where Kreacher was busying himself with dinner preparations. Kreacher seemed delighted to see Draco, who only gave the elf a small wave. Kreacher reminded Draco of a time he'd rather forget, and Harry led them up and through the dining room until they were at the end of the hall and facing up the stairs.

"You managed to get rid of those hideous heads," Hermione shivered as she remembered the grotesque way the Black family displayed their past help on the wall leading up to the second floor.

"Again, thanks to Malfoy's spell," Harry said. "I always wondered who would think that was a good idea, it was so morbid."

"Looks like the place has a fresh coat of paint, too," Draco decided he wanted to try to be a part of the conversation. "I remember most of the house being covered in wallpaper."

"All the wallpaper was peeling by the time we lived here in our fifth year," Hermione explained. "This place was a mess. It's nice to see it not look so dreary. Even when we hid out here last year it needed a lot of tidying up. You've been busy, Harry."

Harry shrugged. "You helped over the summer and Mrs. Weasley stops by fairly often. She doesn't think Kreacher feeds me well enough. Andromeda and Teddy have been by for tea several times, I wanted the place to be a little less scary for him." Harry paused and glanced at Draco. "Andromeda has been going through all the family documents and heirlooms, I told her she could keep or throw away whatever she wanted. I hope that was okay."

Draco lifted his shoulders. "Everything here belongs to you, it is all yours to dispose of however you see fit."

Harry shook his head. "But when you talk like that I feel like you're just trying to be nice for Hermione's benefit. This is all you family's things."

Draco's eyebrows raised in slight surprise. He was used to Hermione's random outbursts at this point, but Harry Potter being so direct was throwing him slightly off balance.

"Andromeda was closer to the Blacks than I ever was," Draco said with some confusion. "I don't have any sentimental attachment to this house or the things within it."

"This was your family," Harry didn't really understand why he was arguing his point, but it felt important to him to justify letting Andromeda take control of the historical side of the house.

"This was distant family," Draco corrected. Truth be told, Potter, you'll probably find relations in this house if you look close enough. The Blacks are related to just about any pure-blood family, quite like the Malfoys. The Weasley's are related to the Blacks, the Blacks are related to the Malfoys. The Malfoys are related to everyone. I have enough history, Potter, at my disposal. I don't really need anymore. You could use a lesson in genealogy, however. Have you studied the tapestry?"

The condescending tone Draco adopted during his short lecture was oddly comforting to Harry. Condescending Malfoy he could handle. Condescending Malfoy he could exploit.

"I can show you," Harry said easily. "However there are a lot of burn marks."

"Sirius's mother was harsh," Hermione said softly, reminding both men of the reason of their pissing match.

"Yes, she was," Harry agreed readily.

"She blasted off the people who didn't live up to her expectations," Draco said.

"She would have blasted you off if she could see you now," Hermione said with a wide grin.

"I wouldn't mind a bit," Draco said with a roguish grin. "Andromeda probably thought it was amusing."

"Do you think your mother would like to take a look around?" Harry's words left his mouth before he could think them through.

"My mother?" Draco stopped short and evaluated the dark haired man. "I don't know what my mother would want."

"It's a open invitation," Harry said with what he hoped was a tone of nonchalance. "I know your mum was Sirius's cousin, maybe she would like to see the old house, maybe sort through some things with Andromeda?"

Draco was sure that Harry was having a go at him, but then he took a closer look and to Draco's surprise he didn't catch any amusement in Harry's features. Harry was really offering to open up his home to Draco's mother.

"I'll mention it to her," Draco said cautiously. "She hasn't mentioned any desire to do so, but the offer is appreciated."

Harry nodded and the three continued up to the first landing and walked a few feet before Hermione turned to Draco.
"This was my room," she told him. "I used to share it with Ginny when we first started staying here. This is where I stayed last summer."

"It is still your room," Harry reminded her gently. "I told you, as long as you want it."

Hermione smiled. I'm going back to Hogwarts for the remainder of break," she told him. "I still have to figure out what is causing the Maliceptor. I would really like to put it behind me."

"Behind us, wasn't it, Granger?" Draco interjected. "Remember I got a stint in the hospital wing thanks to it."

"But it's dangerous," Harry argued. "I thought you would stay here on break."

"I need to figure out what's causing this," Hermione stated simply. "It only seems to happen at Hogwarts, so I need to go back to Hogwarts to determine what the cause is. I'm hoping to do so while all the students are out."

Harry shook his head and eyed Hermione warily. "You don't owe anyone anything, Hermione," he told her.

"I think I owe it to myself, don't you?" Hermione asked him. "I went back to Hogwarts for an education, and instead I get an unwanted adventure of Hermione Granger and the pesky poltergeist."

"I'd say pesky is putting it mildly, Granger," Draco drawled. "Besides, you don't have to rush back just yet, the holidays are right around the corner and you have that unfinished business we discussed, remember?"

Harry's features suddenly grew suspicious as he looked at Hermione then turned a glare at Malfoy.

"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" Harry asked him.

Instead of replying, Draco kept admiring eyes fixed on Hermione's suddenly flushed face.

"Ron," she looked up at Harry while wringing her hands together. "Apparently I'm carrying a grudge."

"Ron?" Harry asked with surprise. Ron was the last thing he expected Hermione and Draco to discuss on their holiday. "What about him?"

"Draco thinks I haven't fully forgiven him for leaving us," Hermione explained in a tone that hinted she had already practiced this conversation in her head. "He thinks I have some issues to sort out with Ron."

Harry stiffened and remembered a conversation he had himself with Hermione, not so very long ago.

"This is where I realized I would never forgive Ron for leaving us." Hermione said

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Hermione, that's not fair," he argued.

"Not fair?" Hermione said stiffly. "Ron left us, left me. Of course the Horcrux influenced his decision, but that doesn't change the fact that he still left us. We all wore the locket, but you and I never gave up. I know that logically speaking he was always going to come back, but that doesn't make it hurt any worse. Something broke inside the three of us that night and the damage cannot be undone. Mended, but not truly repaired. Don't deny you didn't feel it, too."

"He saved my life, Hermione," Harry said. "Right over there. Please be rational."

The tears finally spilled over in Hermione's brown eyes. "Can I not be rational, just this once?" she pleaded with him.

Something akin to relief washed over Harry then. "Rational now?" He asked her.

Hermione gave him a watery smile. "Trying to be," she answered honestly. "I didn't understand why I felt the way I did, I understand it now, I think. It just means Ron and I need to sort some thing out."

Harry glanced at Draco, who was still looking at Hermione as if she were a sunrise. Harry wondered if his own features looked half as goofy as Malfoy's did then when Harry looked at Ginny.

"The last time we spoke privately ended well enough," Hermione was saying. "And I feel like there's more to say, I just don't know how to say it."

"It's my fault," Draco said softly. "If I had been kinder to you then you wouldn't feel this way now."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't believe that."

Harry looked questioningly at Draco, who answered; "I think Hermione feels deep down that because Ron is a pure-blood he has the same, ah, tendencies towards bias as I have shown in the past towards muggles and muggleborns."

Harry glanced over at Hermione and considered Draco's hypothesis. "I think there's something to add to that, even," he said slowly.

Now he had both Hermione and Draco's fixed attention and continued. "I've been thinking it over," Harry mused, almost to himself. It didn't happen right away, but it clicked after we discussed your new relationship with Malfoy in the forrest, remember? When you said you couldn't fully forgive Ron. Would you still feel this level of betrayal if your parents hadn't shut you out as well?"

Hermione inhaled sharply at the mention of her parents. She thought about them daily. How their lives were progressing, how their practice was doing, if they even missed their only child at all.

"Leave my parents out of this," Hermione exhaled the words in a hiss.

"I was there," Harry reminded her. When they told you they couldn't pretend to live in your world anymore when you lifted their memory charm. They were scared. They gave you an ultimatum, like Ron. Them or us. Horcruxes or Ron. Your parents wanted you to choose them, and you chose to come back to Hogwarts instead to finish your education. Ron wanted you to choose to leave with him, and you chose to stay and help me finish what we started. Hermione, this isn't about being a muggleborn or being a pure-blood, it's about people demanding you choose between one thing or another. You chose to follow your heart in both cases and they punished you for it. Ron left and your parents cut you off. Hermione, you have no one to answer to but yourself. Stop beating yourself up for doing what you think is right."

"Harry James Potter," Hermione breathed in what could have been interpreted as a dangerous tone. "How did you get so insightful?

Harry let out a breath and grinned sheepishly. "Probably from spending too much time with you, I'd wager."

Draco shifted his eyes back and forth between the two Gryffindors and wondered if he would ever feel like anything less than a Slytherin outsider. Hermione told him that houses separate people. She had been right.

"Harry?" Hermione broke Draco out of his dark thoughts. "Have you given any thought to Christmas? I don't mean to change the subject, but maybe having Ron here would help."

Harry shrugged. "I have the space," he said with a tough of bewilderment at the statement. "I can't imagine Mrs. Wealsey would give up her kitchen domain, but she always said she enjoyed the space to prepare a meal here. Kreacher would be beside himself to help. It doesn't have to be formal affair. I could owl everyone."

"Everyone?" Suddenly Draco went from dark to somewhat nervous. "Exactly who is everyone?"

"The Lovegoods," Hermione said immediately.

"The Weasley's, of course," Harry added. "And Andromeda and Teddy. I already bought him his first broomstick. I just need somewhere for him to really practice, the backyard isn't really fit for Quidditch."

"What about Neville and his grandmother?" Hermione asked tentatively. However good a friend Neville was, he had never been invited for a holiday.

"Fantastic idea!" Harry found himself enjoying himself. The house would finally feel like his home.

"And your mother?" Hermione turned to Draco. "Do you think she would like to come?"

Draco's eyes went wide. "Why don't you invite all the Slytherins while you're at it?" he asked sarcastically.

Harry sprang. "Well, why not?" He asked. "Blaise is more than welcome."

"You said you were still close with Pansy, would she accept an invitation?" Hermione asked Draco.

"You're actually suggesting I invite Pansy?" Draco asked incredulously. "Pansy Parkinson?"

"How many Pansy's do you know?" Hermione grinned wickedly as she delivered him words he gave to her a lifetime ago. "We could have a Christmas Eve get together. As Harry said, there's plenty of room."

"How do you Gryffindors change pace so fast?" Draco finally demanded as his head started spinning at the thought of Pansy and Hermione willingly breathing the same air for a social engagement rather than a funeral.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, perplexed.

"How did we go from discussing something so serious to a Slytherin and Gryffindor gala?" Draco demanded.

Harry couldn't help himself. "Luna is in Ravenclaw, actually."

Hermione snorted, then covered her mouth before breaking out in hysterical laughter. Oh the tension! The tension and the ebbing and flowing of life and death and ex-girlfriends and ex-Deatheaters and Christmas pudding just washed over her in such a way that she found nothing but joy in this moment. Her best friend was casually discussing a Christmas party with her ex-enemy now-lover and suddenly she felt her stomach flutter at the thought of what their life could really and truly be. Hermione didn't need her parents who didn't understand her, her magical family was more amazing than a blissful dream. Now she was armed with the knowledge that things between her and Ron would truly be alright. She understood herself better. She lost so much but she had also gained so much, she had just allowed the guilt of her decisions, decisions she still would make today, wash over her time and time again. Harry's enthusiasm for opening his home to whoever wanted to share in their post-war happiness was all Hermione needed to know that things would truly work out in the end.

"It's not about houses," Hermione said with a broad grin as she caught her breath. "It's about building a life. Even you were thinking about having a party of some sort, maybe that can be in the cards if this goes well, and I know it will." Hermione added with a short nod to herself. "What do you think?"

"I think that I've grown far too accustomed to your mad schemes, Granger. Potter, do you need addresses?"

(A/N) This chapter is an excellent example of how things can take on a life of their own. I had planned to go another route, but then Harry started getting all wise on us in his old age ;) I truly hope you're enjoying this, this chapter in particular made me feel like the tone is changing now from desperate drama to a more natural state of living. Granted, we still have to get to the bottom of the Maliceptor, but that chapter is pretty much written already! Please send good fic finishing juju, I would love to have this finished by June (my personal deadline). As always, please review if you've enjoyed reading or have any constructive criticism. Find me on Tumblr for fandom/fic related things as arielxwriter, additionall for personal blogging, twitter as amccollums or instagram as arielsinlove. Thanks for reading!